Admission to schools in Pembrokeshire - Information for Parents

1

(English medium school)

All pupils experience areas of learning through the medium of English.

At least 15% of the learners’ school activities (both curricular and extra-curricular) will be in Welsh.

A learner in a school of this category will be able to read, write, speak and listen in English according to age and ability, and will have some understanding of Welsh. Welsh will be taught and assessed as part of the Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE) for languages, literacy and communication.

English is the school’s main language of internal communication as well as with parents and carers. There is recognition that creating a Welsh language ethos within the school will support and encourage positive attitudes towards Welsh language use. Some Welsh used as a language of communication with pupils to improve capacity to use everyday Welsh.

The school communicates with parents either in English or in both languages

Normal expectation is that pupils will transfer to English medium secondary provision and continue to learn predominantly through the medium of English, learning Welsh as a second language.

TR2

(Transitional School)

English medium school/provision or those with a high proportion of Welsh provision transitioning to being a dual language school/provision over time.

Curriculum provision and learners’ school activities will reflect an increase in Welsh medium provision over time.

The increase in Welsh provision over time would reflect the everyday use of the Welsh language. 

The school communicates with parents in both languages

This is a bridging category between two main language categories. These transitional arrangements enable schools to plan how they will realise an increase in Welsh-medium provision over time. Increasing the Welsh-medium provision, in order to move to the next category, Category 2 would be the outcome.

2

(Dual Language)

At least 50% of learners’ school activities (both curricular and extra-curricular) will be in Welsh. This could be achieved in different ways depending on the school context. It could be by using full Welsh-medium immersion up to age 7 with choice offered in the other year groups, or that 50% of school activities are in Welsh throughout.

A learner in a school of this category will be able to speak, read, write and listen in English and Welsh according to age and ability. Welsh language skills will be further strengthened by increasing the amount of learning opportunities (curricular as well as extra-curricular) offered through the medium of Welsh. Where Welsh is used as a medium of learning, occasional English is used at times to reinforce the learners' understanding

Welsh and English will be used for internal communication as well as with parents and carers. There is clear understanding that maintaining a Welsh language ethos within the school will support positive attitudes towards Welsh language use.

Both Welsh and English are used in the day-to-day business of the school.

Language of communication is determined by nature of curricular provision. The school communicates with parents in both languages.

With the right support, learners could progress to a Category 3 Welsh-medium secondary school.

TR3

(Transitional School)

Dual language (Welsh and English) school/provision transitioning to being a Welsh medium school/provision over time

Curriculum provision and learners’ school activities will reflect an increase in Welsh medium provision over time.

The increase in Welsh provision over time would reflect the everyday use of the Welsh language. 

The school communicates with parents in both languages

This is a bridging category between two main language categories. These transitional arrangements enable schools to plan how they will realise an increase in Welsh-medium provision over time. Increasing the Welsh-medium provision, in order to move to the next category, Category 3 would be the outcome.

3

(Welsh medium school)

All learners are taught fully in Welsh, with English being used on occasion to ensure understanding during early immersion. From aged 7 onwards at least 80% of learner’s school activities (both curricular and extra-curricular) will be in Welsh.

Foundation Phase – medium of Welsh.

Key Stage 2 (KS2) – at least 80% of teaching through medium of Welsh.

Welsh is the school’s main language of internal communication. Communication with parents and carers is in either English, Welsh or bilingually as needed. This is a school with a strong Welsh language ethos at its core, supporting and enabling learners’ Welsh language use in all social context in and outside of school.                                        

Pupils, regardless of home language will be able to transfer to Welsh medium secondary provision and by the end of KS2 will have reached equivalent standard in English to that reached by pupils in predominantly English medium schools.

1

English medium school

All pupils experience areas of learning through the medium of English.

At least 15% of the learners’ school activities (both curricular and extra-curricular) will be in Welsh.

Welsh will be taught and assessed as part of the Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE) for languages, literacy and communication. A learner in a school of this category will be able to speak, read, write and listen in English and according to age and ability.

English is the school’s main language of internal communication as well as with parents and carers. There is recognition that creating a Welsh language ethos within the school will support and encourage positive attitudes towards Welsh language use. Some Welsh used as a language of communication with pupils to improve capacity to use everyday Welsh.

The school communicates with parents either in English or in both languages

Any pupils choosing Welsh medium options if available could be assessed through the medium of Welsh in those subjects at all levels. Most pupils would be assessed in English and progress to English medium post 16 study.

2

(Dual Language)

A learner in a school of this category will be able to speak, read, write and listen in English and Welsh according to their age and ability. Welsh language skills will be further strengthened by increasing the amount of learning opportunities (curricular as well as extra-curricular) offered through the medium of Welsh. Depending on the amount of time devoted to learning through the medium of Welsh and use of the Welsh language outside the classroom, learners would be able to apply their Welsh skills in a range of different Areas of Learning and Experience.

At least 40% of learners undertaking at least 40% of school activities (both curricular and extra-curricular) in Welsh.

Welsh and English will be used for internal communication as well as with parents and carers. There is clear understanding that maintaining a Welsh language ethos within the school will support positive attitudes towards Welsh language use.

Any pupils choosing Welsh medium options, could be assessed through the medium of Welsh in those subjects at all levels and may potentially progress to study at post 16 through the medium of Welsh in those subjects. Most pupils would be assessed in English and Welsh and progress to English or Welsh medium post 16 study.

3

Welsh medium

A Welsh-medium School offers a wide range of their Areas of Learning and Experience through the medium of Welsh.

At least 60% of learners undertaking at least 70% of their school activities (curricular and extra-curricular) will be Welsh.

Category 3 schools are expected to continue to reflect the linguistic context of the area whilst working towards increasing their Welsh-medium provision over time.

Welsh is the main language for internal communication.

The school will communicate with parents and carers in either Welsh, English or bilingually as needed.

There is a robust Welsh ethos, supporting and enabling learners to use Welsh in all social contexts in and outside of the school.

Learners will be able to speak, read, write and listen in Welsh and English according to age and ability.

Assessment at Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) will be through the medium of Welsh in all subjects apart from English or other languages.

Pupils will be able to progress to Welsh medium Post 16 provision.

3P

Designated Welsh Medium

A Designated Welsh-medium School delivers all Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE) through the medium of Welsh.

100% of learners will undertake at least 90% of their school activities (curricular and extra-curricular) in Welsh.

Welsh is the main language for internal communication.

The school will communicate with parents and carers in either Welsh, English or bilingually as needed.

There is a robust Welsh ethos, supporting and enabling learners to use Welsh in all social contexts in and outside of the school.

Learners will be able to speak, read, write and listen in Welsh and English according to age and ability.

Assessment at Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) will be through the medium of Welsh in all subjects apart from English or other languages.

Pupils will be able to progress to Welsh medium Post 16 provision.

T2 and T3

Transitional Sub-categories 

These are bridging categories between two main language categories as for Primary Schools above.

These transitional arrangements enable schools to plan how they will realise an increase in Welsh-medium provision over time.

Increasing the Welsh-medium provision, in order to move to the next category, is the aim of the transitional sub-categories. Therefore, T2 bridges a category 1 and 2 school, with the aim of becoming a category 2 over time and T3 bridges a category 2 and 3 school with a goal of becoming a category 3 School over time.

The increase in Welsh provision over time would reflect the everyday use of the Welsh language. 

The school communicates with parents in both languages.

Assessment would be aligned to the increase in Welsh provision and according to the bridged categories as above.